Wednesday, October 3, 2012

When Prayer Doesn't Work

Sometimes, it seems we pray to a deaf ear. In
the Old Testament, God often set Himself apart from the false gods of old—gods
carved by the hands of man—with eyes that could not see, having ears that could
not hear. Yet, I would venture to say we all have felt we’ve knelt before a
mute statue—not of gold, but of our imagination. For each life must suffer our
dark days if we live long enough. We desire to escape them, but it cannot be.

In my darkest moments, I’ve found myself
sucking in the words of Scripture. I’ve walked through the leaves of fall and
winter’s blasts—right into spring’s colorful burst. I’ve pondered questions of
man’s choice and God’s control. I’ve wept through music and have doubted the
very words I’ve spoken forth.

But, in the end I’ve always—eventually—turned my face upward.

I’ve walked a path that felt unsure. I’ve
reached for hope in a clouded view.

Pastor Mark said to me one day, “There is always
purpose in His sovereignty.” He neither dismissed our choices nor weakened
God’s control.

There is purpose in God’s sovereignty, and so
it is—that there is purpose in every dark night, in every twisted form. And
because there is purpose, there is hope. And when we reach for hope in the
darkness, we experience faith. In many ways, I guess, that’s when we experience
faith the most.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life.” John 6:68